The Business Arrangement | Mafia Romance 18+

Chapter Eleven: The Hunt (Part 2)

POV: Henry 

Maya slumps to the floor beside the bed, her face blank with shock.

"No," she whispers.

I kneel down beside her and pull her to my chest. But there's no masking the frantic beat of my pulse, nor the tension in my jaw.

In the span of a few seconds, the blissful peace of waking up beside her has shifted into full blown panic.

I need to fix this.

I have to.

But Maya comes first, and I'm not about to leave her alone right now. Damage control will come after.

"What?" Charlotte sighs, oblivious to the danger she's in, "Don't tell me, he offered you a job too? We're competing for it?"

If only it was that simple.

"Charlotte. Please, I need you to listen to me."

Maya's voice is shaky and high pitched, a far cry from her usual confidence. I haven't heard her like this since the day we met, when she begged for my help.

The thought makes my blood boil.

I don't care if I have to put a fucking bullet through his head myself, Robert Bianchi will be dead by the end of the summer.

"Why? What's wrong?"

Charlotte, thankfully, sounds like she's starting to catch on. There's a hint of concern in her voice now.

"It's about your new job," Maya stammers, "Mr. Bianchi isn't trustworthy."

"What?" Charlotte laughs in disbelief, "Says who?"

"Charlotte. I'm serious. He put something in my drink at the graduation banquet. And Henry says—"

"Henry? How do they know each other?"

Maya freezes, and looks to me in panic. A second later she swallows, shakes her head, and turns back to the phone.

"It doesn't matter. I'm telling you, you need to get out of there."

"I can't do that," Charlotte groans, "I won't get the job, and this is a really good opportunity for me."

"Charlotte. I'll find you another job."

"Not one like this. Are you sure he put something in your drink? I saw you leave with Henry, so I don't understand why—"

"I'm sure. Please, Charlotte. I'm begging you."

Charlotte sighs.

"I'll think about it, okay? I have to go."

"But—"

"I promise I'll consider what you said."

"Char—"

The phone call ends with a sharp click, leaving us in heavy silence.

Then Maya turns her gaze to me, and guilt burns hot in my stomach.

This is my fault.

I should have seen this coming.

No way would Noah Zhang, infamous for his playboy tendencies, have grown attached and hired Charlotte after a one night stand.

Robert Bianchi, on the other hand, would have seen Charlotte confront me as I was taking Maya from the party. It would have been easy for him to strike up a conversation with her after I left, and learn all about her friendship with Maya.